Chapter 1

Comprehensive Look at Verbal Ability Question-Types

Introduction

CAT and other MBA Entrance exams put together have covered a wide range and variety of VERBAL ABILITY
(VA) question-types over the years in these three broad areas—GRAMMAR (GR), VERBAL REASONING (VR)
and VOCABULARY (VB). Some Examiners have stuck steadfastly to certain question-types, such as, jumbled
paragraphs, sentence correction, sentence completion, or critical reasoning. But some Examiners from
time to time have tried to outdo the others by coming up with new and innovative question-types to test
new and hitherto untested areas. Thus, on collating a comprehensive list of VA question-types that have
featured in different exams over the years, I find that there are some 40 different VA question-types, which
together test virtually all possible areas of the English language. This has proved to be of a great advantage
in the structuring and preparation of this COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE & WORKBOOK of VERBAL ABILITY for
CAT and other MBA Entrance exams.

Different VA Question-Types—A Classification

The different VA question-types can be first classified into three broad categories—GRAMMAR (GR), VERBAL
REASONING (VR) and VOCABUULARY (VB). Then they can be segregated into three sub-categories: (1)
Those that have become “standard” over time and commonly feature in all or most exams; (2) Those that
are “exam-specific” and feature currently (last 3 to 4 years) in the specific exams; and (3) Those that are
“non-standard” as they have featured only once or twice or long time back in certain specific exams but are
interesting question-types that cover important aspects of the language. Here is what emerges as a
classification of the 40 different VA question-types:

1. GRAMMAR (GR)

GR STANDARD QUESTION-TYPES

1. FILL-IN-THE-BLANKS (FIB)-GRAMMAR
2. ERROR IDENTIFICATION
3. SENTENCE CORRECTION

GR EXAM-SPECIFIC QUESTION-TYPES

4. IIFT-NMAT-SNAP Active-Passive Voice

5. IIFT-NMAT-SNAP Direct-Indirect Speech

GR NON-STANDARD QUESTION-TYPES

6. CAT Identify the Incorrect Sentences

7. CAT Identify the Correct Sentences
8. IIFT Identify Phrases and Clauses
9. IIFT Punctuation-Insert Commas
10. IIFT Writing Improvement

2. VERBAL REASONING (VR)

VR STANDARD QUESTION-TYPES

11. JUMBLED PARAGRAPHS (MCQ)

12. CRITICAL REASONING

VR EXAM-SPECIFIC QUESTION-TYPES

1
 13. CAT Jumbled Paragraphs (TITA)
14. CAT Out-of-Context Sentences (TITA)
15. CAT Paragraph Summary (MCQ)
16. IIFT-NMAT-SNAP Jumbled Sentences
17. IIFT-NMAT-SNAP Syllogisms
18. NMAT Statement-Assumptions
19. NMAT Statement-Inference/Conclusion
20. NMAT Statement-Course of Action/Decision
21. NMAT Weak and Strong Arguments

VR NON-STANDARD QUESTION-TYPES: Nil

3. VOCABULARY (VB)

VB STANDARD QUESTION-TYPES

22. SYNONYMS
23. ANTONYMS
24. VERBAL ANALOGIES
25. SENTENCE COMPLETION
26. FILL-IN-THE-BLANKS (FIB)

VB EXAM-SPECIFIC QUESTION-TYPES

27. XAT Fill-in-the-Blanks (FIB)-Confusibles

28. IIFT Crossword Puzzles
29. IIFT Matching Tables
30. IIFT Jumbled Words
31. IIFT Foreign Words and Phrases
32. IIFT Word Origins/Roots, Prefixes, Suffixes
33. IIFT-NMAT-SNAP Spellings
34. IIFT-NMAT-SNAP Idioms and Phrases
35. IIFT-NMAT-SNAP Odd-Man-Out

VB NON-STANDARD QUESTION-TYPES

36. CAT Contextual Usage: Synonyms & Antonyms

37. CAT Inappropriate Usage (testing for Multiple & Idiomatic Usage)
38. CAT Confusibles
39. XAT-IIFT Figures of Speech
40. XAT Word Meanings/Connotations